INFLUENCE OF AGE ON PHYSICAL TRAITS OF JAPANESE QUAIL (COTURNIX COTURNIX JAPONICA) EGGS

摘要

External and internal traits of Japanese quail eggs during 6 months of lay were analyzed. Variables such as egg weight, specific gravity, egg shape index, albumen and yolk heights and their indices, internal quality unit (IQU) and shell and membrane thickness were recorded at 8, 12, 17, 21, 25, 30, 34 and 39 weeks of age. Egg weight, egg length, yolk height and yolk index increased as quail aged. Specific gravity, shell plus membrane thickness, egg shape index, albumen height and IQU decreased at the end of the experiment. Highest values of shell thickness (0.201 mm) and IQU (69.68) obtained at 17 and 8 weeks of age, respectively, indicated that a better quality of egg was attained at the beginning of lay.